An experimental model of spinal cord injury at a precise and reproducible site is an extremely important tool for studying new therapies in spinal cord injuries. OBJECTIVES: To develop an experimental model of spinal cord injury in rats that is able to produce a complete injury (paraplegia) and placing a system enabling agents access close to injury site in order to test local therapeutic agents. METHODS: Fifteen Wistar rats were submitted to surgical transection of the spine, performed by using scissors at the level of T-13 to L-3 vertebral bodies, and, at the end of the procedure, to the insertion of a subdermal catheter intended to enable local therapeutic agents’ access to injury site. RESULTS: An experimental model of paraplegia was consistently developed by adding a supplementary catheter for local therapeutic agents’ access to injury site. CONCLUSION: An animal model of spinal cord injury and a system for local therapeutic agents’ access can be reproduced for the study of different modifiers of the regenerative response in a model of rats with spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord; Paraplegia; Rats
